Eating disorders: Anorexia

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• Society’s promotion of a thin body causes women to develop a distorted body image which can lead to anorexia.

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• Biology and genetic makeup are greater risk factors for developing anorexia than society.

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• Society’s promotion of a thin body causes women to develop a distorted body image which can lead to anorexia.

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• Biology and genetic makeup are greater risk factors for developing anorexia than society.

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Statistics

Anorexia begins with fulfilling society’s requirements of what is a perfect body.

• According to the National Eating Disorders Association, the average American woman is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds.

• The average American model is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 117 pounds.

• 85 - 95 percent of anorexics are female

• Approximately 90 percent are women between ages 12 and 25. Initially found mostly in upper- and middle-class families, anorexia is now found in all socioeconomic groups and a variety of ethnic and racial groups.

This shows how the most people view themselves.

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• In today’s society there is this fear that if you don’t have the

What is anorexia nervosa?Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that makes people lose more weight than is considered healthy for their age and height. A person with this disorder may have an intense fear of weight gain, even when they are underweight. They may diet or exercise too much, or use other methods to lose weight.

An anorexic:• Has a low body weight for her or his height• Resists keeping a normal body weight• Has an intense fear of gaining weight• Thinks she or he is fat even when very thin

What are signs of anorexia?

Someone with anorexia may look very thin. She or he may use extreme measures to lose weight by:• Making her or himself throw up• Taking pills to urinate or have a bowel movement• Taking diet pills• Not eating or eating very little• Exercising a lot, even in bad weather or when hurt or tired• Weighing food and counting calories• Eating very small amounts of only certain foods• Moving food around the plate instead of eating it

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Anorexia comes from biology and genetic makeup

• Researchers have discovered biological evidence of a genetic underpinning to anorexia nervosa: genetic linkage on chromosome 1 for the complex psychiatric disorder.

• Researchers studying anorexia in twins conclude

that more than half a person's risk for developing the sometimes fatal eating disorder is determined by genes.

What researchers have to say

Genes• Thousands of girls are predisposed to develop anorexia

because of the way their brains developed in the womb, says a major new study.

• Studies have suggested that a gene called OPRD1 is linked

to anorexia. • Another spot was between two genes called CHD10 and

CHD9.

Studies• Scientists at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia say they have

identified genes that occur only in anorexia that play a role in how neurons connect and signal the brain.

• The researchers found a link between anorexia and cadherin genes that influence how cells communicate with each other in the brain and are associated with autism spectrum disorders.

• An international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the Scripps Translational Science Institute in La Jolla, CA, has identified possible genetic variations that could influence a patient's recovery from an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia.

Conclusion

My opinion is that anorexia does begins with fulfilling society’s requirements of what is a perfect body. I conclude that because I do feel anorexia is caused by pressures made on mainly young woman to look perfect by society. I believe that because of all of the influences to become skinny. People will start dieting and soon become underweight just to fit in with the crowd and be society’s definition of pretty. This is a very harmful disease and I personally think that people should take precaution and not take being/becoming anorexic to the extreme.

Citations• Kain, Debra. "New Study Sheds Light on Role of Genetics in Recovering from

Eating..." Targeted News Service. 26 Jul 2011: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 31 May 2012.

• Campbell, Denis. "The New Anorexics: Big Increase in Eating Disorders in Women After..." The Guardian. 09 Oct 2010: 3. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 31 May 2012.

• Anorexia nervosa. Womens Health. N.p., 9 Feb. 2008. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/anorexia-nervosa.cfm>.

• "How to Ignore Thin Fashion Models." Christian Science Monitor. 05 Mar 2012: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 31 May 2012.